MOTHER LODE: It's a grand old flag no matter how you slice it and serve it

One of the best things we've done in our church to build
relationships is called a "service auction." It's a bit like the old-fashioned
box supper, when people bought a supper, then ate together. In the auction, we
all put up goods or services we can supply at little or no cost, and then get
together and buy one another's offerings – using Monopoly money, of course.

The auction is a lot of work but a lot of fun, and it's pretty
effective in helping us get better acquainted with those marginal people in our
circle. It's pretty revealing to see a single man blow his whole $2,000 budget
on the promise of six batches of homemade cookies supplied through the year,
complete with an invitation for coffee; or couples bidding on a weekend at a
lakeside cottage; or a certificate for a hand-crafted Christmas wreath in the
colors of your home; or car detailing. The best auction items bring people
together in a different context than the inside of the church.

One year I gave a certificate for six pies, to be made and delivered
for Valentine's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, July 4, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Not a big deal for me; I would be making pie anyway, but for the man and his
wife who bought the service, it was a triumph. They were not bakers.

The year of pies actually began with the July 4 offering. I
made a pre-baked pastry crust, then put a layer of sliced, glazed fresh
strawberries in the bottom. On top of the strawberries went a layer of faux
cheesecake, a combination of cream cheese, sugar, and Cool Whip. The top layer
was fresh blueberries. I put a tiny flag in the pie and my husband and I went
together to deliver it. I was amazed at the joyful response.

The pie touched not only his appetite, but his heart. A Vietnam-era
Marine veteran, the colors of his country were never far from his thoughts and
we learned about his time spent in service as we sat in his backyard sampling
the pie and enjoying his flowers. The Patriotic Pie was an opening for a deeper
understanding of the man and his struggles in civilian life.

I'm really glad the Founding Fathers chose red, white and blue
as the colors for the flag. You can do so much with it in fashion and in food.
The historical facts about the flag's origin are a bit fuzzy, but I like to
think someone was working on the design in June. Strawberries were ripe in New
England. Someone, maybe Betsy Ross, noticed how beautiful they looked,
half-covered in white cream in a cobalt blue bowl. Maybe Betsy or the committee
working on the design or someone we'll never hear about saw the potential there
for an enduring emblem loaded with symbolism and bright enough for the world to
see.

July 4 is a good day to set aside sophistication and just
stand up and cheer when the flag goes by. It's a grand old flag, no matter how
you serve it.